A video game franchise is trying to hit the big time as a mainstream movie — and getting halfway there
Borderlands movie review: Is Eli Roth's video game adaptation a dud?
Say what you will about Borderlands, the venerable Gearbox Software game series about treasure hunters on the ruined alien planet of Pandora – it lives up to its title. Borderlands games find the places between places, whether that means the line between traditional RPG systems and skill-based shooting mechanics, or the line between good humor and gimmick.
Like many game franchises of its size and age, this franchise is a relentless crossing of unlikely lines. Borderlands has been a narrative-based Telltale point-and-click adventure, a top-down iOS strategy game, and a high fantasy adventure. But with Lionsgate's adaptation Borderlands, directed by Eli Roth and starring Cate Blanchett (Tár), Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once), Kevin Hart (Jumanji), Jack Black (The Super Mario Bros. Movie) and Ariana Greenblatt (Barbie), the series tries to cross a line that has left even the biggest, baddest video game franchises stranded in the wastelands.
But even here, Borderlands has found the place in between, which is impressive, but unfortunate. Borderlands the movie isn't very good, but it's unlikely to be very bad either.
